Time to Revisit Your Website

by Doug DeVries

Over the past few years, websites have become increasingly more dynamic. The best websites allow visitors to interact with the content and engage with the community as it relates to your business. This can include product reviews, blogs, discussions, searchable FAQs, etc. If you haven't updated your website in a while, now is a good time to revisit it. A dilapidated website has the same effect as a broken window at your place of business.

Jakob Nielsen's of Alertbox (www.useit.com) discusses some of the top redesign priorities:

1. Email Newsletters
E-newsletters are a low cost, customer-centric method to address customer interests and needs with a high return on investment. If you don't have a newsletter, it's time to start one. Start simple, but at minimum begin collecting all of your customers' email addresses.

2. Product Pages
Your customers visit your website to learn more about your products and services. Don't skimp on the details.

3. High Quality Photography
Poor photography can be very distracting. Not only does it look bad, poor photography often inhibits visitors from fully engaging with your products. Be sure all thumbnails are linked to larger images.

4. Provide Product Comparison Options
Make it easy for visitors to compare your products or compare your products to a competitor’s.

5. Cater to Seniors
Older people are the fastest-growing segment of Internet users. Make your site senior-friendly with clear, easy to read fonts and simple navigation.

Other key items include gift-giving support, search functions, and user testing. Check out the full article at: www.useit.com/alertbox/roi.html. Don't let your website get stuck in 2005. Your customers expect your site to reflect you and your business. A little work on your web presence can give them the right impression and bring a return on your investment.